Austinist: Clinton Camp: Texas Democratic Party Has Some 'Splainin To Do

smack

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 13:35:29 -0600

You're right, it is tan, I am, apparently color dyslexic. And it's in my wallet. Precinct 374 represent.

JUBCHA

Sun, 02 Mar 2008 06:53:13 -0600

asdf

oh steph

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 09:14:34 -0600

The great news is that, according to election laws, you just have to sign in and then you can leave: 1. Precinct Convention Sign-In – Tex. Elec. Code § 174.022 (c), Texas Democratic Party Rules Article IV, Section B (6)(b) Participants may NOT begin signing in until the precinct convention has been called to order. The call to order may not occur until 7:15 pm or until the last voter has voted (whichever is later). If, after the convention has been called to order and participants have signed in, any participant who wishes to leave may do so, and their sign in WILL count toward the delegate allocation for each candidate. Sign-In ends when the last person present waiting to sign in has done so. However, the waiting will come into play at the beginning of the sign in, as you have to wait for all voters to clear out (and if last night was any indication, there will be at least a 45 minute-hour wait after the 7pm shut down.) I'll be caucusing in precinct 266. Who's with me?

hangingfire

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 09:08:51 -0600

Regarding the delegate count: you've got it almost right. In Texas, every State Senate district gets 4 delegates to the state convention. These delegates are apportioned according to the primary votes—the thing for which you'll be casting your ballot on March 4. The remaining 60+ delegates are apportioned among the State Senate districts according to how those districts voted in the 2006 gubernatorial election, and the number of votes that were cast for Democratic candidate Chris Bell. These are the delegates selected in the caucus portion. Our State Senate district, represented by Kirk Watson, is the most powerful Democratic district in the state of Texas; we get eight additional delegates in the caucus portion. Burnt Orange Report had some solid coverage here and here.

kenneth1

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 16:36:59 -0600

I believe it's Hillary Ricardo who has some 'splainin to do. The reason this has just now become an issue is because it was assumed Texas' Dem primary would be irrelevant (as it always has been in the past). But I agree if the Clinton camp had issues with our arcane process, they should've protested sooner than five days before the primary. A federal judge will summarily toss her suit (assuming it's filed) into the round file where it belongs.

bob

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 15:31:31 -0600

I am frantically trying to find that fucking pink card. Don't know if this helps the search, but mine's tan. I admit it's not the most straightforward process, but why is her campaign balking at this at the 11th hour? I'd have thought someone would have researched it awhile ago. I believe Obama's campaign has actually been proactively educating people on the process. Anyway, it feels like grasping at straws (along with talk from her campaign of having the Florida and Michigan votes now counted).

smack

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 15:21:56 -0600

And if you voted early, they give you a little card saying you voted and in what precinct you belong. I am frantically trying to find that fucking pink card.

rtelles

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 15:06:33 -0600

You just have to have voted, either early or that day, to participate in the caucus.

rtelles

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 15:05:51 -0600

You have have to have voted, either early or that day.

k

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 14:38:23 -0600

i thought you had to vote early in order to participate.

gk

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 14:26:11 -0600

"(A) precinct-level delegate distributions based on the number of people who voted for Chris Bell in 2006 " My vote for Chris Bell wasn't in vain!!!

allenychen

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 13:53:49 -0600

according to the Texas Observer: 4. Individuals committed to a particular candidate break into separate caucuses to vote on who gets to attend the senatorial district convention as delegates or alternates. Individuals may nominate themselves or others. I guess, presumably, you could take off before this happens.

gk

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 13:50:24 -0600

"sign in with your presidential preference, and hang out until they count the votes." I was under the impression you just signed your name and leave.

gk

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 13:49:42 -0600

"sign in with your presidential preference, and hang out until they count the votes." I was under the impression you just signed your name and leave.

davetx

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 13:30:08 -0600

This whole caucus business really reeks of jackassery....but I'll be at my local precinct to participate.